It’s a completely new experience to watch a program like Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma on television today. The show brings fun content to the table, which is refreshingly different from what we were used to watching (all saas-bahu drama!) Further, the makers bring some significant social messages that are worth sharing across the masses.
The most impressive thing about TMKOC is its story and characters. They are so realistic that you are bound to get connected to them. It is a masterpiece in the relatable family comedy genre.
Truth be told, Taarak Mehta demonstrated an ability to adapt to the changing landscape of Indian television. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t several weird facts about the show still floating around.
Today, team TGL has curated 20 things you probably didn’t know about this iconic show. Hopefully, they will expand your knowledge of your favorite comedy-drama on Indian television.
Facts about Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma
Bapuji is younger than Jetha Lal in real life (yep!)
And all credit goes to makeup. Dilip Joshi (Jethalal), who plays the role of the son of Amit Bhatt (Champak Lal, Bapuji), is older than his on-screen father.
Bhavya Gandhi is the highest-paid child artist in the Indian Television Industry
Bhavya Gandhi, who played the role of Tappu for 8 years, was one of the highest-paid child artists in the Indian Television Industry. He was getting Rs. 10,000 per episode.
Popat Lal is married and has three children
Bachelor Forever of Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma, Shyam Pathak (Popat Lal), is a happily married man in real life. Even he has three children.
So bachelor forever is not so bachelor in real life.
He plays the role of a journalist in the show but has a degree of chartered accountant in real life.
Duniya hila dunga!!!!
Iyer was the writer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma
Tanuj Mahashabde, who plays the role of Iyer, used to write the show script initially. Later, Dilip Joshi suggested the producer give the role of Iyer to him.
You will be amazed to know that Iyer (Tanuj Mahashabde) is actually Maharashtrian in real life and just playing the role of a South Indian (another hard-to-believe fact).
What an actor we must say!
Jethalal and Babita Jee were co-actors in another show also (ahem ahem!)
Ohh! We got it.
Munmun Dutta (Babita Jee) has had Jethalal’s heart for many years. They have already worked previously in a show named Hum Sab Barati.
Daya Ben and Sunder Lal are siblings in real-life
Daya (Disha Vakani) and Sunderlal (Mayur Vakani) are not only on-screen brothers and sisters, in Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma but they are real-life siblings too. Now we know where that pure emotion comes from.
Veera re, bena re! Haha.
Aatmaram Tukaram Bhide is not a school teacher
In real life, Mandar Chandwadkar, who plays the character of Aatmaram Tukaram Bhide, is a mechanical engineer. He worked for 3 years in Dubai as a mechanical engineer.
Mandar is a multi-talented person. He is a blogger also and writes blogs at atmarambhide-mandar.blogspot.in.
Daya Ben worked in B-grade movies
In 1997, she worked in a movie called Kasmin: The Untouched.
Opposite of her saree look in Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma, Daya Ben (Disha Vakani) has worked as an actress in a B-grade movie and seen in skimped clothes and bold scenes.
Tappu and Gogi are cousins
Two members of Tappu Sena, Bhavya Gandhi aka Tappu and Samay Shah aka Gogi, are cousins in real life. The bond shown on the screen stemmed from their real-life relationship.
Bagha character was not included in the show earlier
There was only one caretaker Nattu Kaka, for the Jethalal’s shop- Gada Electronics. But then the director needed to include the character Bagha when Nattu Kaka took leave. People adored the character of Bagha so much that they have permanently added this character to the show. Earlier, Bagha played some small roles in the show of taxi and auto drivers.
Bhide Ben is a fashionista in real life
Sonalika Joshi, who played the role of the ideal wife, Madhvi Bhide has an educational degree in the field of history and fashion designing.
Sunderlal has an MA degree in Indian culture and a diploma in sculpture and drama
Mayur Vakani (Sunderlal) is an artist and also contributed to the creation of Jhanki in Gujrat that was carried in the Republic Day procession.
Nattu Kaka is a famous actor
Ghansham Das, who played the character of Nattu Kaka in Taarak Mehta Ka Ulta Chashma, was a well-known actor. He has acted in more than 200 Gujarati and Hindi movies, performed in more than 100 Gujrati shows, and worked in over 350 Hindi television serials.
While pursuing his B.Com degree, Dilip Joshi won the Best Actor Award twice
Indian National Theater awarded Dilip Joshi the Best Actor Award twice during his college days. His acting was fine from his college days.
Taarak Mehta is a real writer
Shailesh Lodha, who plays the role of writer Taarak Mehta in the show, is a writer in real life. He has four books of his own.
Disha Vakanis father has also appeared in the show
In a few episodes, the father of Disha Vakani has also appeared in the show playing some small roles like the cousin of Champaklal.
The mother of Disha Vakani also appeared in the show once
Not only the brother and father of Daya Ben but her mother also appeared in the show once. So it is a full family show, we can say.
Rita the reporter is the wife of the director of the show
The real name of reporter Rita Shrivastav in the show is Priya Ahuja Rajda. She is the wife of show director Malav Rajda.
Haha! Maybe she is there to take actual reports.
Gogi’s actual name in the show is the real name of Roshan Sodi
The actual name of Gogi, Gurucharan Singh, is also the real name of his reel father, Roshan Singh Sodhi.
Sonalika happens to be the name of Sonu and Madhvi both
Tappu’s friend Sonu’s reel name Sonalika is also the real name of her reel mother, Madhvi Bhide.
We hope this was a fun read!
Feature image credits- Facebook
